Andrew Holmes (activist)

Last updated
Andrew Holmes
Community Roundtable on Gun Violence 1z1a0540 (Andrew Holmes).jpg
Holmes in 2023
Dolton Village Trustee
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 2019
Personal details
Born1959or1960(age 64–65) [1]
Political party Democratic Party

Andrew V. Holmes (born 1959 or 1960) is a community activist active in the Chicago metropolitan area. He is especially known for his activism related to combatting gun violence, and is also active in advocacy for senior citizens and the homeless.

Contents

Since 2019, Holmes has served as a village trustee (city councilman) in the Chicago suburb of Dolton, Illinois. Homes unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Dolton in 2021, losing to Tiffany Henyard. He has aligned himself politically with Henyard during her controversial mayoralty.

Early life

Holmes grew up both in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, as well as in Montgomery, Alabama. [1]

Community activism

Holmes became a community activist in the mid-1990s after being mentored by Chicago alderman (city councilman) Terry Peterson, who he worked as an aide to. [1]

Gun violence

Holmes' has been a prominent advocate on behalf of gun violence victims. [2] He has often appeared on local Chicago television news broadcasts to discuss the matter. He has also often acted as a liaison between community members in gun violence-stricken neighborhoods in the Chicago area and the police, as he is regarded as having earned the trust of many residents. Local police have credited him with aiding in their investigations into incidents of gun violence. [1]

In 2015, Holmes faced personal tragedy with gun violence when his 32-year-old daughter, Tamara Sword, was fatally shot at a gas station in Indianapolis. [1]

Holmes worked as a crisis manager for the Chicago Survivors organization. [1] [3] Holmes has also distributed gun safety cable locks as a means of decreasing accidental household gun fatalities, particularly those involving children. [4] [5] The group terminated his role in May 2024 after allegations of sexual assault were made against Holmes. [6]

Holmes' titular Andrew Holmes Foundation had partnered with the Kendall and Michael Schofield Family Foundation (operated by athletes Kendall Coyne Schofield and Michael Schofield) to host winter holiday events for Chicago families who have been impacted by gun violence, as well as in its efforts to distribute gun safety locks. [4] [7]

Senior citizens

Holmes worked for Illinois State Representative Milton Patterson, who tasked him with focusing on the needs of senior citizens in his district. Holmes became aware that many elderly residents in the district had been victims of crime and abuse. Holmes began working with local police to solve cases involving elder victimization. He also began a tradition of giving roses to nursing homes residents on Mother's Day and baseball caps to residents of nursing homes on Father's Day. [1]

In the 2010s, Holmes founded Club 100, for which his foundation organizes a banquet and party for local centenarians. He has opened the annual event up to also honor 99-year-olds, after some residents of that age asked him to out of concern that they might not personally live to 100. [1]

Homelessness

For many years, Holmes annually protested outside of Chicago City Hall by sleeping outside on a cold day to draw attention to the need for the city to provide warm shelter for its homeless. [1]

In late 2023, Holmes partnered with a radio station to distribute warm clothes to the homeless in Chicago, and urged the city government to do more to find housing for its homeless. [8]

Other matters

Holmes has lectured on matters such as human trafficking. [1]

In late-2021, Homes helped the Chicago Police Department apprehend his own brother for committing package theft. He said that he could serve as an example for others whose relatives commit crimes. [9]

Dolton village trustee and 2021 mayoral campaign

In the late-2010s, Holmes began living in Dolton, Illinois. [1] In 2019, Holmes was elected as village trustee (city councilor) of Dolton. He was one of three candidates elected in the plurality-at-large election for seats that year. He won nomination in Democratic Party primary election as part of the successful three-candidate "New Dolton Democrats" slate endorsed by Mayor Riley Rogers. [10] Dolton's elections tend to be more competitive than those in most other municipalities in the Chicago area's "southland" region, often seeing many candidates run. In 2019, eleven candidates sought election in the primary. [11]

Holmes ran for mayor of Dolton in 2021. His candidacy was centered on government transparency and fixing basic infrastructure in the city. [12] Holmes ran in a four-person Democratic primary election against incumbent mayor Riley Rogers, fellow village trustee Tiffany Henyard, and Robert Shaw (a politician who was the brother of the deceased past Dolton mayor William Shaw). He placed third, behind Henyard and Rogers. [13] Henyard went on to win the general election. [14] Subsequently, during Henyard's controversial mayoralty, Holmes has been a prime ally and defender of her on the village board. [2] [15]

In September 2021, Holmes was the only village trustee to vote in support of Henyard's request to hire a media consultant at a pay rate of $3,000 per month. This request was rejected by the village board of trustees by a vote of 5–1. [16]

In his successful 2023 reelection, Holmes was endorsed by Mayor Henyard, who also endorsed Stan Brown. Henyard also supported the unsuccessful primary election write-in candidacy of Joslyn King and the also-unsuccessful general election write-in candidacy of Linda Terell. [17] [18] The Chicago Tribune observed that Holmes had previously been Henyard's sole ally on the board, and that Brown's election alongside Holmes meant that Henyard's number of allies on the six-member board increased from one to two. [19] Opponents of Henyard's had attempted to challenge Holmes' candidacy, alleging he did not truly reside in Dolton and therefore failed to meet residency requirements. [20] In the same election cycle, Holmes filed a challenge with the Cook County Clerk's Office against former mayor Rogers' nominating papers to run for an additional term on the Thornton Township Trustees of Schools Board. [21]

In February 2024, Holmes opposed cuts in the village's budget, which were passed over the veto of Mayor Henyard. [22]

Personal life

Holmes has had six children. In 2015, his daughter Tamara Sword (a 32-year-old mother of five children) was fatally shot at a gas station in Indianapolis. Two men were arrested for her shooting. It was believed she had been caught in crossfire. [1] Her murder, as of 2020, remained unsolved. [23]

In 2021, Holmes was involved in a multi-vehicle traffic collision that saw a Chicago Transit Authority bus hit his car after running through a red traffic light. [24]

In 2023, one of Holmes' grandchildren was injured in a mass shooting that occurred in Indianapolis. [25]

In April 2024, a lawsuit was filed which alleges that Holmes sexually assaulted a Dolton village employee while on a May 2023 Dolton-related business trip to Las Vegas. [26]

Electoral history

2019 Dolton village trustees Democratic primary [27] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Andrew Holmes 1,363 17.42
Democratic Tammie Brown 1,170 14.95
Democratic Edward "Ed" Steave 1,054 13.47
Democratic Stanley "Stan" Brown90411.55
Democratic Robert E. Hunt, Jr.7509.58
Democratic Alison Key6448.23
Democratic Valeria Stubbs (incumbent)5166.59
Democratic Robert E. Pierson, Jr. (incumbent)4365.57
Democratic Duane Muhammad (incumbent)4275.46
Democratic Alfred "AJ" Burse3504.47
Democratic Kevin A. Boens2112.70
Total votes7,825 100
2019 Dolton village trustees election [28]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Tammie Brown 1,000 33.59
Democratic Andrew Holmes 992 29.52
Democratic Edward "Ed" Steave 918 30.84
Write-In Others672.25
Total votes2,977 100
2021 Dolton mayoral Democratic primary election [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Tiffany A. Henyard 1,001 34.28
Democratic Riley H. Rogers (incumbent)88830.41
Democratic Andrew Holmes86229.52
Democratic Robert Shaw 1695.79
Total votes2,920 100
2023 Dolton village trustees Democratic primary [30] [31]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Andrew V. Holmes (incumbent) 1,489 19.27
Democratic Stanley "Stan" Brown 1,354 17.52
Democratic Tammie Brown (incumbent) 1,026 13.28
Democratic Edward "Ed" Steave (incumbent)97912.67
Write-In Joselyn King79110.24
Democratic Samysha "Mesha" Williams7729.99
Democratic Valeria Stubbs5497.10
Democratic Demetrious Walker3184.11
Democratic Danny Fields2373.07
Democratic Carlton Higgins2132.76
Total votes7,728 100
2023 Dolton village trustees election [32] [33]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Andrew V. Holmes (incumbent) 1,699 31.00
Democratic Stanley "Stan" Brown 1,687 30.78
Democratic Tammie Brown (incumbent) 1,515 27.64
Write-In Linda Terell58010.58
Total votes5,481 100

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Vaisvilas, Frank (4 March 2020). "His daughter's murder nearly ended Andrew Holmes' crusade against gun violence, but 5 years later he's still at it: 'I get out there and do what's on my heart'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  2. 1 2 Hinton, Casey Toner, Rachel (1 June 2023). "Big Spending and a Springfield Joyride for South Suburban 'People's Mayor'". Illinois Answers Project. Retrieved 15 March 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ Marin, Carol; Moseley, Don (7 June 2017). "'I Really Wanted to Give Up': Chicago Activist Perseveres Through His Own Tragedy". NBC Chicago. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  4. 1 2 Two sources:
  5. ↑ Cassimy, Evrod (30 May 2023). "Solutions Prove Elusive to Chicago's Gun Violence Problem, but Activists Keep Up the Fight". NBC Chicago. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  6. ↑ Waldroup, Regina (14 May 2024). "Local activist, Dolton trustee Andrew Holmes terminated by Chicago Survivors over assault allegations". NBC Chicago. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  7. ↑ Two sources:
  8. ↑ "Chicago activist calls on city to do more for unhoused residents: 'get them off the streets'". Fox 32 Chicago. December 29, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Community Activist Andrew Holmes Turns In His Brother For South Side Package Thefts - CBS Chicago". CBSNews.com. CBS News Chicago. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  10. 1 2 Nolan, Mike (26 February 2019). "Dolton voters backing term limits for mayor and clerk". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  11. ↑ Slowik, Ted (4 October 2022). "Column: Dolton's Tiffany Henyard declares herself 'mayor for life' on heels of appellate court win in recall lawsuit". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  12. ↑ "Community activist Andrew Holmes officially running for Dolton mayor". WGN-TV. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  13. ↑ Multiple sources:
  14. ↑ "Tiffany Henyard Wins Race For Mayor Of Dolton". CBS News Chicago. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  15. ↑ Nolan, Mike (13 January 2024). "Dolton mayor tags some trustees as expendable during recent budget OK, calling them 'bench warmers'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  16. ↑ Slowik, Ted (22 September 2021). "Column: A fatal police shooting in Dolton has created tension among mayor, trustees". Chicago Tribune.
  17. ↑ Nolan, Mike (28 February 2024). "Dolton trustee candidate who lost in 2023 accuses Mayor Tiffany Henyard of libel, defamation". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  18. ↑ Slowik, Ted (5 April 2023). "Results in south and southwest suburban city council, village board races". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  19. ↑ Nolan, Michael (16 March 2023). "Certified election results show Dolton write-in candidate backed by Mayor Tiffany Henyard fell short". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  20. ↑ Slowik, Ted (7 March 2023). "Column: Election prompts surreal scene in Dolton as mayor, trustees battle over legal bills". Chicago Tribune.
  21. ↑ Slowik, Ted (5 January 2023). "Column: Investigators launch probes into dozens of challenges involving candidates for suburban school, library, park boards". Chicago Tribune.
  22. ↑ Nolan, Mike (6 February 2024). "Dolton trustees override Mayor Tiffany Henyard's veto of budget cuts". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  23. ↑ "Chicago community activist Andrew Homles honors slain daughter, Tamara Sword, 5 years after unsolved murder | abc7chicago.com". abc7chicago.com. ABC 7 Chicago. August 23, 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  24. ↑ Johnson, Charles J. (1 April 2021). "Community activist Andrew Holmes hit by CTA bus after it goes through red light, police say". Chicago Tribune.
  25. ↑ "Grandson of community activist Andrew Holmes injured in mass shooting in Indianapolis - CBS Chicago". CBSNews.com. CBS News Chicago. October 30, 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  26. ↑ Placko, Dane (9 April 2024). "Tiffany Henyard tried to conceal alleged sexual assault by Chicago activist, lawsuit claims". FOX 32 Chicago. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  27. ↑ "Consolidated Primary Election February 26, 2019 Summary Report Cook County" (PDF). Cook County Clerk. 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  28. ↑ "Cook County COOK_20190402_E April 2, 2019 Summary Report" (PDF). Cook County Clerk. 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  29. ↑ "February 23, 2021 Consolidated Primary Election - Mayor, Village of Dolton Township & Precinct Results". Cook County Clerk's Office. 2021-02-23. Archived from the original on 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  30. ↑ "Cook County Cook 2030228 Ver February 28, 2023 Summary Report" (PDF). Cook County Clerk. 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  31. ↑ "Suburban Cook County Consolidated Primary Election February 28, 2023 Official Write-In Vote Totals" (PDF). Cook County Clerk. 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  32. ↑ "Tabulated Statement of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the April 4, 2023 Consolidated Election Held in Each of the Participating Precincts in Cook County, Illinois and Certain Districts and Political Subdivisions with Overlapping Boundaries Where the Cook County Clerk is the Reporting Election Authority" (PDF). Cook County Clerk. 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  33. ↑ "Suburban Cook County Consolidated Election April 4, 2023 Official Write-In Vote Totals" (PDF). Cook County Clerk. 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
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